Y'all, I'm looking now at the Lee sofa on which I spent more than $5,000 6 or 7 years ago for the higher quality level, only to watch the cushions become WEIRDLY misshapen within 18 months: "pitching forward" (a good term for something I hadn't known could happen before seeing it here), sinking in the middle, the back cushions developing permanent horizontal folds that couldn't be returned to its intended shape, and slanting to one side in a way that wouldn't fluff back to its original shape. The seat straps collapsed in less than 3 years, and I used the throw cushions under the main seat cushions to bring it back to height somewhat. TOTAL CRAP! What's left of it is still here, due to a combination of pandemic issues (including my getting long covid) and the difficulty of finding smaller-sized quality furniture in the configuration I want. Wish I'd stuck with the beautiful Calico Corners sofa that the Lee replaced only because a new room configuration required an L-shaped sectional for TV viewing. During the pandemic, a new Calico sectional -- a small one -- was going to cost in the upper $7,000s - low $8,000s, and I was already out the $5,000-something for the Lee, so... After re-reading this thread, I'll look into the Quatrine, Massoud, and Arhaus. But ple-e-ease SAVE YOURSELVES from the Lee Industries experience!

Thanks all....you've helped me feel less of a chump. I emailed him a gift card with a big apology for being such a ditz and a promise to celebrate in a few weeks. So DH comes home and I tell him how upset I am that I forgot and he says "didn't we celebrate on Saturday?" WTH? Um...no.......did you see a gift? A cake? Did you hear anyone say Happy Birthday? He's almost as bad as I am....but he did send birthday wishes on FB this morning.

I'm having the best time reading your memories. @Kippy. ROFL boiled lawn. I read it to my husband and he said, "that's just like your pennywort drink but worse". At least my drink has sugar in it to offset the taste. @jillius Durian smells really bad raw. Did the candy smell too? @mushcreek. I had to look up chitlins. OMG hog's intestines and guts. And it's served with my favorite foods, collard greens and fried chicken? Say what!! The name sounds like little critters running around, especially chitterlings. @mgmum Yes..... that's what I have nightmares and wrote about. Uni = RAW sea urchin. It looks like slimy, congealed barf. @flamingfish I used to feel the same way as you about oysters until someone introduced me to the right kinds of oysters. The oysters that I've learned to love are small and sweet. They're slightly chewy like clams and are delicious with lemon and a dash of spicy red sauce. Even my husband likes them and he is afraid of any food that isn't processed or packaged in a box or plastic. Those kinds of oyster are pretty expensive though so we only eat them when in San Francisco at a specific oyster bar during their happy hour. The oysters are $1/each then. @ Bob. if it's really "Cow fetus in placenta sauce" , you definitely beat the goat's eyes. @mrspete. Oooooh a Scots for hubby. I adore Scots and their accent. I will take your advice and NEVER try haggis. I don't need another memory scar. By the way, have you seen Outlander? @artemis "one could not remotely begin to guess which nodules were peppercorns or bits of lead shot!" - Too funny. @blubird. Yuck and just curious. Why are the ingredients no longer allowed to be sold?

I've only ever lived in 2 cities and one town and there are good and bad about all three. But as for homes: the worst place was here in Calgary. We rented a duplex about a 10 minute drive from where I live now. The area was okay. Behind the house was a back alley and behind that a busy railroad track that we got used to fairly quick. Behind that the main route out of the city to the east. Or into the city from the east. :) Across the highway was a drive in theater. The kids would lay on the top bunk and watch movies on one of the four screens that faced our home. They couldn't hear a thing, but imagined the words. It was a block from the school and I could watch as my oldest walked to school by himself. We had wonderful neighbours with kids my kids ages. It was great to have those close friends as we all had so much in common. But the house itself was a disaster. The roof was in dire need of repair. I called the landlord often to tell him about the leaks. He had his insurance check it out and he collected the money to repair it, but he never had it repaired. His wife insisted it was done. I said, "I'm a stay at home mom of 3 kids. It's a tar and gravel roof. I would know if someone was on the roof fixing it as I never leave the house". In the meantime, we had to disconnect the ceiling light in the boys room as the water leaked through the light on to the floor, where we had a bucket to catch the water when the snow melted or when it rained. It was a fire hazard. My front large burner would collapse with heavy weight so I couldn't use it. The fridge leaked all over the floor so I had towels lay on floor beside it to catch the water. The floor in the bathroom was rotting away and I could see into the basement. The foundation was cracked and when it rained, I would have puddles of water on the floor in the basement. I had video and photos to show them, but nothing was ever done. The area flooded really bad. Because we had an under the living room garage, the basement filled with 4 feet of water which put the hot water heater and furnace under water too. They never sent anyone in to clean the furnace or repair the hot water tank. I didn't give notice when we moved. Instead I left them with a copy of the video tape I made of all the damage and a letter explaining why we moved. And all the garbage we didn't want to keep. I told them to sue us. We could prove what terrible landlords they were. We never heard from them again.